Chapter Text
Owen had felt weird and decided to lay down when he was suddenly standing on the bridge working on something(?). He looks around a little dazed when he spots Apo coming towards him.
“Hey, are you finished with that?” She asks while moving to standing next to him.
“Finished with what?” He replies confused.
“That sign.”
“Huh?” He looks down and sees the sign. It says head south with an arrow pointing upward. She moves closer to look over his shoulder causing something soft to brush against him.
“What was that?” He turns to look at it.
“My wing?” She replied, her brows furrowed.
“Am I dreaming?”
“No this is real.”
“… When did you get them?”
“Like a few days ago.” She looks at him with concern on her face. “Do you not remember? You were there.”
“Was I?”
Suddenly everything went grey and she was returned to her time as violently as she left.
“ There’s nothing wrong, can you just drop it already!” Apo shouted at Owen before disappearing. For a few seconds he just stands there reorienting before her words sink in.
“Wait!” Owen desperately calls out while trying to find them, but it is useless. Apo has already run into the dark forest surrounding them. In her desperation he rewound time and brought Apo back to that spot.
“What the-“ Apo doesn’t get time to finish before Owen wraps himself around her. As soon as those arms wrapped around her Apo immediately started panicking and squirming to get free. That
only caused Owen to hold on tighter.
“Please Apo, I know what is wrong!” Owen said in a near bruising grip. “I just want to help you.”
“I don’t need your help!" Apo shouted while still struggling in Owen’s grasp. “I am handling it fine on my own! “
His arms loosened slightly before looking up and asking one question. “Are you sure?”
Apo seemed surprised as they hesitated for a second before replying quietly. “I hope so.” They stay there for a second before Owen accepts, removing his arms.
They both freeze as Owen’s hand finds evidence of what's been happening. There are two large bulges on Apo’s back from the tops of her shoulder blades to a little above her tail bone.
Apos’ walls came back up instantly as she nearly stumbled backward. Taking one last look back she turned away and ran in a seemingly random direction to the veil of trees. Owen is just left standing there lost in the flood of events of what will happen next. She knows what to do, and what she will do. It still feels weird to have it predetermined though. He still needs to talk to Shelby about that.
~~~~~
The feather holders were building on the bridge when a piercing shriek echoed from the mountain. All three of them whipped their heads around hesitating only for a second before dropping their materials and sprinting to the source of the sound.
Sausage ran ahead and across the plains quickly using his shoes for a boost. Pearl and Owen were trailing behind as fast as they could. The plains turned to more forest, and eventually they reached the location.
Pyro was already there by the time they arrived. He was looking directly up at a cave in the cliff. “ What happened?” Sausage asked as they approached. The hollow looked to be about 50 ft (15.25 meters) up off the ground.
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” Pyro replied a little exasperated. “That and how to even get up there.” He walked around the area again running his hand along the wall trying to find somewhere to climb up.
“Can’t you just use your owl to figure it out?” Peal questioned crossing her arms.
“I did but the inside of the cave was dark, and there was no clear route up,” Pyro explained before shifting his gaze to the silent Owen. “What do you think?” She doesn’t reply and just points as she sees her future self climb up to the ledge. All eyes shift to the route confused.
“What are you pointing at?” Pearl asked, “there’s nothing there.” Owen’s mind felt hazy as he moved on instinct to reveal the well worn path from beneath some leaves. She started climbing, following in her own self to reveal the path up.
“Wait for us!” Sausage exclaimed before jumping with a boost from his boots and latching on to the cliff. The others looked at each other briefly before following closely behind.
What they saw inside made everyone gasp. With the light from a torch Owen held they saw Apo on her hands and knees, a ring of sweat on the ground beneath her. The long bones of her wing pressed against her skin to the point of splitting. Everyone sprinted to her, with the exception of Pearl deciding to stand off to the side.
Owen and Sausage bent down to comfort her while Pyro took a closer look at her back. Only then did Apo look up to see them. Her eyes were hazy and unfocused with pain as she glanced around.
“This doesn’t look good,” Pyro stated gravely while pulling out his sword. “The process is almost done.”
“Is there anything we can do?” Sausage pressed desperately while rubbing circles into her arm.
“Just try your best to keep her comfortable and calm.” Pyro took the torch from Owen and gave it to Pearl, directing her on where to stand for the best lighting. Owen just stayed down on the ground whispering to Apo while Sausage grabbed pillows and blankets to lay underneath her. The ground was cold as Pyro got down on one knee and started to line up the blade.
It was deathly silent in the cave as the first incision was made. Apo gasped in pain and her breathing sped up rapidly as blood started pouring out of her back. Owen and Sausage felt helpless as all they could do was keep saying comforting words. Pearl just kept standing over them watching silently as Sausage wiped the sweat from Apos’ face.
Pyro was about to grab her wing and pull it out gently when suddenly Owen’s hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. She looked directly at Pyro before warning “Don’t, they have to come out naturally.” This caused Pyro to just move on to the next one silently.
As he began the second cut the first wing burst free with a loud squelching sound spraying blood across anything between it and the wall. The force caused her to wretch backwards Into his sword creating a deep gash in the incorrect place. Pyros’ eyes went wide before using some cloth to try and soak up some blood and put pressure on it.
Pearl with unwavering calm handed the torch back to Owen, urged Apo back down then felt the thick blood coat her hands as she applied pressure to the wound. “Go on and finish the job now,” she said looking directly into Pyros’ soul. Sausage got the message and started helping with the wound moving and using his cape to clean as well.
Pyro, with as much strength and precision as he could muster into his shaky hands, lined up the edge and moved it along the bulge. This wing came out almost immediately ripping itself out of her back soaking in blood. Now that there was one less thing to worry about, Pyro was able to think clearer.
“Sausage I need you to grab medical supplies and return here as fast as you possibly can,” Pyro said.
Sausage shouted “Will do!” Before jumping up and sprinting out toward their base. Apo had passed out completely after the second wing was freed, and was laid down flat on her stomach to prevent more movement than necessary. Sausage returned out of breath a short while later sporting a large bag that revealed the medical supplies.
“Alright, can you guys move out of the immediate area so I can wrap it?” Pyro asked while shooing them out of the way.
“And if we don’t?” Pearl asked, smiling before being dragged off to the side.
After moving everyone out of the way Pyro started to clean the large cut. There wasn’t much that they had access to during this time so it wasn’t the best. Pyro had to clean the wound with water from his waterskin, and wrapped the area in gauze before just laying down to take a breather as all the adrenaline drained out of his body.
“Should we wrap the base of her wings as well?” Sausage asked.
“No because then they won’t fuse properly,” Owen said, suddenly making everyone jump a little.
“You can go get some water to help clean her up,” Pyro suggested helpfully.
Sausage nodded furiously before nearing bolting out only stopped when Owen declared “Just hurry back,” Never once looking away from her sleeping form. He left ,and once again it was just the four of them in the cavern together. With nothing else to do Pyro started to take stock.
The cave was surprisingly well furnished with a crafting table, furnace, chest, and a bed(?) of sorts composed of seemingly random fabrics including his missing blanket. Huh, so that’s where it went. Pearl breaks the silence with a simple statement. “I guess it’s a good thing her dress is open back.”
“Now’s not really the time,” Pyro groans before covering their eyes with a bloody arm.
“I’m not wrong though.”
“Technically.”
Owen stood up and climbed down. The tension in the cave was growing thicker by the second until they heard a splash sound outside. Pearl walked over and looked over the ledge to see Sausage and Owen steading the bucket of water.
“Need some help with that?” Pearl asks with a small smile.
“That would actually be great!” Sausage says happily.
“Nah I’m good,” she said slyly before going back inside and sitting on the pile of blankets.
Sausage grumbled and the two of them carefully carried the half full bucket up and over the ledge into the cave. The sound caused Pyro to look, then sigh and sit up. By the time he was comfortable Owen had already started to clean Apos’ back with some towels and water.
With everyone’s help each wing was cleaned with precision and care by each of the feather holders. Slowly the feathers were cleared of blood revealing the beautiful purple and black underneath.
“By the looks of it, the feathers seem to be those of a Purple Martin,” Pyro said, leaning to get a better look.
Pearl snorted, “She’s been acting more like a crow recently, always being obsessed with shiny stuff.”
“I guess we should clean the blood off of the walls as well,” he deflected standing up with a huff. This caused everyone to groan before following suit. By this time they were all tired with pruned fingers. Reluctantly Sausage made the trek and with more assistance and returned with fresh water.
In the meantime Apo had been moved once again this time on to the makeshift nest to allow her body to heal. Then they slowly made their way across the rough cave walls and floors scrubbing until there was not a speck of blood on any surface. Once the last of the water had been dumped they were all finally allowed to collapse and fall asleep almost instantly. Only Owen had chosen to stay awake to be there for when she returned